Saturday, 12 December 2015

Rest & Be Thankful No.3 An Hourly Emergency Bulletin for West End Xmas Shoppers #XmasInLondon #shoppingishell

For those of you out and about today on the busiest shopping day of the year… TIME TO TAKE A BREAK from the hell of Oxford Street & surrounding environs! Head for…The Salisbury, 90 St Martin’s Lane (Tube Leicester Sq)

As a general rule, beware the hostelries on the West End’s main drags. Noisy, rude and ugly (the punters as well as the establishments) they are no places to relax after a hard day walking London. The Salisbury is the great exception.

It’s packed before showtime at the Coward Theatre next door, but when the theatre crowd thins out, an atmospheric, perfectly preserved Victorian gin palace is left behind. The mahogany island bar is sectioned off at the far corner to create a snug little space – I’d recommend that you tipple in this area, or the big main bar as opposed to the poky, windowless back room. Big, ornate etched glass windows keep natural light at an acceptable minimum, with wall sconces and hanging lamps creating a perfect, slightly illicit atmosphere.

The Amazing Old Shops Walk takes place on the 19th December – meet Judy at Green Park Station at 10:45a.m

The Christmas Lights & Seasonal Cheer Pub Walk takes place on the 19th December meet at Embankment Tube 7:15p.m

On Christmas Day there are TWO London Walks:

Walk up an appetite with The Christmas Morning 1660 Walk – meet at 11:00a.m by the big tree in Trafalgar SquareWalk off the pudding with The Christmas Day Charles Dickens Walk – meet by the big tree in Trafalgar Square at 2:00pm

A
London Walk costs £10 – £8 concession. To join a London Walk, simply meet your
guide at the designated tube station at the appointed time. Details of all
London Walks can be found at www.walks.com.